Gooseberry Mesa Trail

Surrounded by sweeping red rock mesas and wind-sculpted, solidified ancient sand dunes, the Gooseberry Mesa Trail, which can be accessed from both Hurricane, as well as the Zion National Park, is considered to be a world-class trail, and it is easy to see why. With magnificent sandstone monuments, shadowy canyons and looming rock towers, the scenery here really is unlike anywhere else.

The trail itself twists and turns around Gooseberry Mesa, offering up stunning clifftop vistas around each and every bend. In addition to the endless views, you and Fido will also come across a variety of different native plant life, from manzanita and ponderosa, to juniper and pinyon.

Although the Gooseberry Mesa Trail runs along a bare rock landscape, with sections of loose sand and dirt, there are white blazes at regular intervals the entire way, making the terrain so much easier to navigate. Many of the rocks around you will also be quite loose, so be sure to watch your footing, as well as where Fido places each paw, and stick to the trail at all times.

One of the highlights of this trail is that it is relatively crowd-free, with the majority of tourists tending to flock to the trails at the nearby Zion National Park. Although the solitude may be welcomed, this does also mean that the trail is lacking in facilities. There is no drinking water to be found anywhere along the trail, so make sure to bring along enough for the hike for both you and Fido.

If you and Fido are looking for a longer walk, the Gooseberry Mesa Trail connects up with a few other hiking trails. The White Trail is 3.2 miles in length, and you will likely pass by its trailhead on your way to the Gooseberry Mesa Trail, while the South Rim Trail is slightly longer, at five and a half miles in length.

The Gooseberry Mesa Trail can be accessed via an unnamed dirt road off of S.R. 59, south of Hurricane.

With its dramatic landscape and sense of isolation, the Gooseberry Mesa Trail will definitely be a one-of-a-kind walk for you and Fido.